Business-based social media giant LinkedIn is offering its employees worldwide one week of paid vacation to avoid the effects of burnout, the company announced.
LinkedIn has been monitoring worker sentiments since the onset of the pandemic. Credit: Blogtrepreneur / Flickr
Nearly 16,000 employees are set to have the week off after higher-ups wanted to offer something tangible as a reward for their efforts.
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The initiative came into effect on April 5 and was done to allow its staff to unwind and relax following a slump in demand for their need.
"We wanted to make sure we could give them something really valuable, and what we think is most valuable right now is time for all of us to collectively walk away," LinkedIn's chief people officer Teulia Hanson told CNN.
The majority of its workforce is being given the same week's vacation, which Hanson assured the press will mean emails and meetings will not pile up in their absence. This was made as a conscious decision to not encur unnecessary stress once they returned to work.
"You want the goodness of your vacation to last a little bit when you come back," she added.
Since the onset of the pandemic a little over a year ago, almost the entirety of the social media giant's staff have been working from home.
The company revealed it has been working hard to ensure the mental well-being of its staff.
The data they collected showed many employees were having a hard time and burnout was looming.
In response, the company founded the "LiftUp!" campaign which includes burnout trainer for managers, no-meeting days and access to mental health resources.
Employee sentiments apparently started to shift around last June, CNN reports.
The company also had a shutdown towards the end of last year, which has slightly alleviated concerns, according to a more recent survey conducted on employee habits.
Hanson said: "I think the reality of the weight of the pandemic really took its toll during those months. That was a heavy time. That is when we were seeing: 'wow there is clear burnout.'"
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The company are set to continue offering a "hybrid flexible" work system once the pandemic subsides.
It is also going to continue to monitor employee sentiments and offer the services of the LiftUp! initiative.
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